South African Private-Healthcare Inquiry to Proceed Until 2015

April 16 (Bloomberg) -- South Africa’s Competition
Commission will start its probe into the private-healthcare
industry even as hospital operator Netcare Ltd. objects to the
use of accountants KPMG in the inquiry.

The investigating panel plans to make its initial findings
and recommendations available for public comment in October
2015, Chairman Sandile Ngcobo said in a presentation to
reporters in Johannesburg today. This will follow public
hearings planned for March and April next year.

“There is no interference,” Ngcobo said, when asked about
the Netcare complaint. “What we are saying is that the market
inquiry has commenced.”

Netcare applied to the South Gauteng High Court in January
to challenge the commission’s use of KPMG as its technical
service provider because the consultant had also done work for
the Johannesburg-based health company.

The inquiry aims to determine factors that restrict
competition and cause rising private healthcare prices. The
panel was announced on Jan. 30 to preside over the investigation
and produce final recommendations to the regulator.